Assessing the appropriateness of learning conditions to constructivist approach in science and technology laboratories

The purpose of this study is to investigate the appropriateness of learning conditions in science and technology laboratories to constructivist approach regarding the opinions of students and teachers. The study population of the research consists of 7000 8th grade student and 225 science and technology teachers in the center of the province, Erzurum. The sample has 400 8th grade student and 30 science and technology teachers. Proportional cluster sampling technique is chosen as sampling method. The data were collected from the constructivist learning condition questionnaire which was built up by the researcher and the interview form containing semi-structered questions used during the interview with the teachers. Pilot implementation was carried out for both. The reliability factor was 0.88 and subject specialists were consulted for the content validity of the scales. The quantitive data gathered from students were analysed using a computer program as well as descriptive analyse technique was used for data from teachers. The study revealed that learning conditions in the science and technology laboratories have considerable deficiencies for constructivist approach. The deficiencies can be explained as providing no adequate opportunities to students in learning process, students' not being effective in decision making process, lack of guidance by the teachers, and the inadequate influence of laboratory conditions for increasing students' interests for science. Defective physical conditions, insufficient time and populous classrooms are other important findings. It's been found that teachers tried to perform the activities related to real life by overcoming these deficiencies despite the lack of tools and materials. As a result, science and technology teachers, taking students' interests into account in labs,.should take pains to enable students to be more active in learning process and increase students' motivation. Therefore, it will be useful to train science and technology teachers more effectively for their designing constructivist learning conditions as well as designing laboratory conditions at schools in terms of constructivist approach Keywords: Science and Technology Laboratories, Science and Technology Eduation, Constructivist Learning Condition